Method and apparatus for impregnating material



May 21, 1935 J. H. CAMPBELL 2,001,768

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING MATERIAL Filed March 15, 1953 Patented May 2l, 1935 PATENT oFElcE METHOD` AND APPARATUS .FOR IMPREG- NATnvG-MATEBIAL James H. Campbell, Somerville, Mass., assigner to James D. Moore, Dorchester,

Application March 15, 1933, Serial No. 660,867

17 claims.

This invention relates to a process of treating a relatively dense sheet material ,composed of irregularly matted animal fibers with or without a matrix of bonding material, to the product of the process, and also to means for practicing the l process. Leathers are representative of the general class of materials which may be improved by this invention. It is highly desirable for various purposes to treat leather by impregnating the side thereof having the more open or more loosely matted fibrous structure, as the esh side, with an ingredient or compound adapted, for example, to increase the resistance to wear and/or to increase the resistance to moisture so as to render the impregnated vstock substantially waterproof, or the treatment may be one adapted to produce other desired results, as 'to harden or to soften the material.' The application of substances or compounds suitable for these purposes may have deleterious effects on the grain or hair side of leather and/or may cause objectionable discoloration and/or the necessary heat may render the stock less pliable sc that it cracks and breaks open readily.

Qbjects of this invention are to provide for impregnating materials of the class referred to herein with any suitable or desired ingredient or compound while saving one side, as the hair or grain side, of the stock from harmful effects of the treatment; to provide an-improved process for enecting these results; to provide improved means for practicing the process; and also to provide an improved leather article such as a shoe sole having the grain side thereof free from discoloration and suniciently pliable to be capable of flexing under normal conditions of use withoutcracking or breaking openand yet having the inner or tlesh side thereof impregnated with an ingredient adapted to render the sole more suitable for its intended use.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device for supporting sole pieces for'treatment and illustrating the device in open position to lreceive the sole pieces;

Fig. 42 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig.

-1, but in closed position with the sole pieces supand the upper as well as the lower pressure memi bers engaging these sole pieces; l

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through aA body of (cria-*1) liquid illustrating supporting devices disposed therein; and A Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustratingvthe condition of a piece of leather after treatment.

The device selected for illustration herein com- 5 prises longitudinally disposed frame members I0 and I I and a transversely disposed frame member I2. y These frame members are proportioned and arranged to form a substantially continuous enclosure about the sole pieces to be treated. Along 10 their inner edges these frame members are provided with aligned grooves such as the grooves- I 3 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. 'I'hese grooves provide opposed wall portions between which the edges of the sole pieces may be secured for treat- 15 ment. A deformable means such as an elastic rubber tube 14 is disposed in and along the grooves I3 to form a substantially continuous resilient cushion. Preferably this tube is cemented to the base portions of the grooves I3 with flexible col- 20 lodion as this withstands the heat of the bath and affords protection from wax, oils etc. 'Ihe ends of Athis tube may be secured in a like manner to the mating end portions of the frame members II and I2, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Preferably 25 these frame members are interconnected for rel--I ative movement toward and from each other for gripping and releasing the sole pieces. For this purpose the members I0 and I2 are pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin I 6 mounted in 30 straps I'I and I8 carried bycthese members. Sim. ilarly the longitudinal members I0 and II may be pivotally connected at the lower ends by connecting the pivot pin I9 to the hinge straps 2| and 22. Releasable means for securing these mem- 35 bers together in position to retain the sole pieces comprises a handle 23 carried by a substantially triangularl latch member 24 mounted to pivot on a pin 26 carried by the frame member I2. The latch member 2l is operablein aligned grooves 40 21 and 28 formed in the adjacent end portions of the frame members II and I2. .The latch member is provided with a retaining notch 29 which is engageable'with a pin 3| disposed transversely of the groove 28. The frame member I2 may also 45 be equipped with an eye screw 32 or-other means for suspending the device from a support.

' Conveniently the'frame members III, II- and I2 may be made of wood or similar material and in order to retain a frame of this character ir vertical position in a body of liquid, the lower ends of the frame members I I and I 2 are mide heavier than the yupper portions of the frame. It is also preferred to have the lower ends convergent downwardly as this improves drying of the device when removed from the treating` baths. These objectives are obtained by attaching to the convergent lower ends of the frame members I and II the relatively heavy metal plates 33 and 34'.

In practicing the invention similar sole pieces 36 and 31 are arranged in superposed relation with their grain surfaces facing each other, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and are pressed firmly together between opposed pressure members38 and 39. Preferably these pressure members have a large area and extend nearly to the lateral edges of the sole pieces being in'eated. It is also preferred that these pressure members should have a contour approximately following the contour of the sole pieces, as illustrated with reference to the lower pressure member 39 in Fig. 2 wherein the dotted lines illustrate the contour of this pressure member.

When the sole pieces are pressed firmly together as illustrated in Fig. 3, the supporting device with the parts in the'relative positions shown in Fig. 1 may be closed about the lateral edges of the sole pieces preferably by moving the members I0 and I I relatively toward each other/and then swinging the member I2 firmly against the mating edge of the member IVI and swinging over the handle 23 to engage the-latch member 24 with the pin 3| so as to retain the members in the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the parts of Ythe device are so proportioned and arranged that the act of closing the frame members about the sole pieces causes the lateral edges of the latter to embed themselves in the elastic tube I4, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will also be evident from this view that the tubing I4 is squeezed or pinched tightly between the marginal portions of the walls of the groove I3 and the angular edges of the sole pieces while the air in the tube acts as an elastic cushion to hold the adjacent wall of the tube snugly against the transverse edges of these sole pieces. This forms a fluid-tight seal along the edges of the sole pieces and effectively prevents liquid, applied to the outermost surfaces of the sole pieces, from seeping along the lateral edges or otherwise nding its way to the marginal edges of the grain surfaces and damaging the latter.

After the frame members of this supporting device have been secured together in the manner described, the pressure members 38 and 39 may be separated and the supporting device having the sole pieces secured therein may be transferred to a bath 4I (Fig. 4) and supported therein in a position completely to immerse the sole pieces 36 and 31. This bath may contain any compound or ingredient adapted to increase the utilityof the sole pieces. Various solutions suitable for these purposes are well known. A bath adapted substantially to waterproof and to increase the wear resistance of the sole pieces may comprise a mixi ture of 40 parts ceresine, 40 parts paraifine and 20 parts colophane. For a more flexible sole, the mixture may comprise 45% paralne, 45% ceresine and tallow. A less expensive mixture may comprise 10% paramne and 30% colophane.

'I'he sole pieces are left in the bath for a sumcient time to permit the more fibrous exposed surfaces of the leather to become impregnated to the desired depth as substantially to the grain surfaces but not long enough to permit the impregnation to penetrate the grain surface as this would produce discoloration and cause this sur- V face to have a tendency to crack and break open readily. Obviously the length of time the sole `immersion in a bath maintained "at a temperature 100 C. .while 'a sole twelve irons thick may require five minutes in the same bath to secure the desired impregnation.

As the impregnating material substantially lls the interstices or voids within the body of the leather, the air is displaced and expelled from the grain or hair side of the leather. The illustrated device is constructed to provide for the escape. of this air by the arrangement of the free ends of the tube I4. These end portions bend or curve outwardly on a small radius as indicated at I4' and I4" (Fig. l) so that when brought together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 the curved portions I4 and I4" cooperate to form a comparatively minute aperture l5 through which the air may escape into the bath. Providing for the escape of the air assures complete and thorough penetration of the impregnating material.

While the supporting device has been illustrated as including elastic sealing means in the form of the tubing I4, it is not necessary for all purposes to employ this elastic means as good results may be obtained by forming the grooves I3 `of such proportions that their` lateral edge portions impinge directly upon the outer angular edges of the sole pieces and in this way squeeze these edge portions together and tend to prevent liquid from passing along these edges to the grain surfaces. It will also be evident from this dis- -closure that it is not necessary to treat two sole pieces at a time as substantially the same results may be obtained by covering the grain surface of one sole piece with a layer of protective material of such a character as to shield this surface from the action and effects of the bath. For example, one of the two pieces 36, 31 may constitute a part of the apparatus rather than a second sole to be treated. It will also be seen that in the illustrated example each sole piece of the pair being treated functions as a substantially imperforate layer of protective material for the grain surface of the other member of the pair. Moreover the frame members I0, II and I2 together with one of the sole pieces constitute an enclosure about the other sole piece which enclosure is rendered fluid tight along and across as well as between the lateral edges of the sole pieces by means of the elastic tube I4.I 'Ihis sealed enclosure protects the grain surfaces from the damaging effects caused by the heat and/or ingredients of the bath.

A piece of leather 4I (Fig. 5) impregnated according to this invention has greater utility by reason of the impregnation which preferably extends substantially to the grain surface 42 as indicated by the stippled portion 43. This is accomplished without depriving the grain surface of its natural texture and appearance or causing objectionable discoloration thereof.

The term grain surface is used herein and in the claims in its broad sense and is intended to cover the natural grain surface or top grain surface of leather as well as, similar surfaces which are formed artificially as for example on split leather or leather of which the grain stratum is removed in whole or in part.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scpeV of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method oi' treating sheet material comprising irregularly matted animal bers which comprises arranging substantially imperforate protective material across one surface and about the peripheral edges of the sheet, embedding these edges in the protective material and applying to the other surface of the sheet a liquid comprising Yan ingredient adapted to increase the utility of the sheet.

2. 'Ihe method of treating sheet material comprising irregularly matted animal fibers which comprises arranging substantially imperforate protecting material across one surface and about the peripheral edges of the sheet, embedding these edges in the protective material, venting the interior of said sheet material through theA protective material for the escape of air from said interior, and applying to the other surface of the sheet a substance adapted to increase the utility of the sheet.

3. The method of treating a piece of leather having a grain surface which comprises securing a layer of protective material substantially in fluid-tight relation across the grain surface of the leather and im'egnating the other surface by immersing theA piece of leather and its protective layer in a fluid mass comprising an ingre- 'dient adapted to increase the utility of the leather.

4. The method of treating a leather sole which comprises providing a piece of leather having a grain surface and having its edges formed to the contour desired for the sole, forming a substantially huid-tight enclosure about the grain surface and said edges, sealing this enclosure in substantially huid-tight relation along said edges and impregnating the other surface by immersing the formed sole and its enclosure in a fluid mass comprising an ingredient adapted to increase the utility of the sole.

5. The method of treating leather soles which comprises providing a pair of leather sole pieces at least one of which has a grain surface, arranging these pieces in superposed relation with the grain surface innermost, forming a huid-tight enclosure across and between the edges of these sole pieces, sealing'this enclosure in substantially 'fluid-tight relation along the edges of these sole pieces, and impregnating the outermost surfaces of the sole pieces by immersing the solepieces with their edges sealed into a bath comprising' an ingredient adapted to increase the utility of the sole pieces. l ,s

6. The method of treating leather` soles which comprises providing a pair of leather sole pieces eachhaving a grain surface, arranging these sole pieces in superposed relation with their grain surfaces facing each other, securing -these pieces in this relationship by clamping them firmly together atA least along their edge portions; and impregnating these sole pieces by simultaneously applying to their exposed surfaces ab substance adapted to increase their utility. f

7; The method of treating leather soles which comprises providing a pair of leather sole pieces, each having a grain surface, arranging these sole pieces in superposed relation with their grain' surfaces facing eachother, securing these pieces in this relationship by clamping them nrmly together atleast along their edge portions, forming a fluid-tight enclosure across and between the edges of 'these soleiypieces, sealing this enclosure in substantially fluid-tight relation with the edges of these sole pieces, and impregnating these sole pieces by immersing them. in a fluid comprising an ingredient adapted to increase their utility.

8; A device of the'class described comprising a frame having opposed wall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed wall portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, means for securing a sole piece within said enclosure with the vedge portions thereof substantially, in fluid-tight relation with adjacent portions of said protective layer, and means providing for the escape of air from said edge portions of the sole piece.

9. A device of the class described comprising a frame having opposed wall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges 'of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layr of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed wall portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially huid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, and means for securing a sole piece within said enclosure with the edge portions thereof substantially in uidtight relation with adjacent portions of said protective layer.

10. A device of the class described comprising a frame having opposed wall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed wall portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, and means for l1. A device of the class described comprising'a frame having opposed wall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate 1ayer`of protective material extending across the/opening between said opposed wall` portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially huid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, and means for securing a sole piece within said enclosure with the edge portions"l thereof substantially in fluidtight relation with said enclosure, at least the lower portions of said frame being convergent downwardly to facilitate dripping of liquid therefrom. y

l2. A device of the class described comprising means having opposedwall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed wall portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, and means for securing a'sole piece within said enclosure with the edge 'portions thereof substantially in fluidtight relation with said opposed wallportions, said means overlapping the edge of the sole piece on the side opposite said layer.

13. A device of the class described comprising a frame having opposed wall portions grooved`to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed wall portions, the latter means cooperating with saidopposed wall portions to provide a substantially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions, and means for securing a sole piece within said enclosure with the edge portions thereof substantially in uid-tight relation between said opposed wall portions and said protective layer.

14. A device of the class described comprising a frame having opposed wall portions spaced to receive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material exreceive and substantially to enclose the lateral edges of a sole piece, means providing a. substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending across the opening between said opposed. wall portions, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a subst tially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed within said opposed Wall'portions, and elastic means disposed along said opposed'wall por- Y tions and adapted to engage and to fit snugly .about the edge portions of a sole piece so as to tially fluid-tight enclosure about a sole piece disposed Kwithin said opposed wall portions, and an elastic tubular member disposed along said opposed wall portions and adapted to engage and to t snugly about the edge portions of a sole piece so as to make a substantially duid-tight joint between the sole piece and said opposed wall portions.

17. Adevice of the class described comprising interconnected frame members movable relatively toward and from each other for gripping and releasing a sole piece, said frame members having opposed wall portions approximately following the contour of a sole piece, packing means between the sole piece and walls, means providing a substantially imperforate layer of protective material extending between said packing means, the latter means cooperating with said opposed wall portions to provide a substantially fluid-tight enclosure about one surface and the edges of a sole piece disposed within said opposed wall portions,

`and releasable means for securing said frame members together for retaining a sole piece therein.

.JAMES H. CAMPBELL. 

